CHRYSANTHEMUM SPORTS. 



537 



it may be well to have " a giant's strength it is not always wise 

 to use it as a giant," but discriminate. 



Everyone interested in the subject of horticultural exhibitions 

 and schedules should closely study the R.H.S. Rules for Judging, 

 as many small points of very great importance are embodied 

 therein. 



The End at Last. 



It will be observed if there is one injunction more prominent 



than another in this, I fear, tedious paper, it is the importance 



of attending closely to small matters by committees, secretaries, 



stewards, exhibitors, judges. The full significance of so-called 



trifles has been more forcibly expressed by the poet Young than 



anything that I can say. It is condensed in three lines, with 



wisdom in every word : — 



" Think nought a trifle, though it small appears ; 

 Sands make the mountains, moments make the years, 

 And trifles, life." 



CHRYSANTHEMUM SPORTS. 

 By the Rev. Prof. Geo. Henslow, M.A., V.M.H., F.L.S., &c. 



[Read December 14, 1897.] 

 Introduction. 



According to Mr. W. B. Hemsley's investigations, our garden 

 Chrysanthemums of Eastern origin consist of two species, 

 C. inclicum, L., a small yellow flowered species ; and the larger 

 flowered C. Morifolium* (sinense, Sab.). The former appears 

 to be origin of the Pompon varieties ; the latter, together with 

 possible hybridisations, the source of the larger flavoured 

 Chrysanthemums. 



The immense variety now existing among these flowers is 

 partly the result of the numerous crossings and recrossings 

 which have been made between variously coloured ones, coupled 

 with subsequent dissociations of colour and reversions to more 

 primitive types, and partly to seminal variation.f 



No microscopic differences of importance are to be detected. 



* The earliest reference (1696) gives the name Matricaria japonica, 

 maxima, flore roseo. See Gard. Chron. Nov. 23, 1889. 



f I have to thank numerous correspondents for the examples herein 

 given of the various sports with which they have kindly supplied me, as 

 well as many interesting observations upon them. 



Q 



